Can crusher

ABSTRACT

A method of crushing a can having a top, a bottom, and a sidewall, and apparatus therefor. The method comprises the steps of making at least one slit in the sidewall of the can from the top to the bottom and restraining the sidewall of the can from outward expansion. The can is axially compressed so as to crush the can while the sidewall is restrained from outward expansion so that the can sidewall is forced to collapse inwardly. As a result, there are a minimum of exposed sharp edges on the crushed can.

United States Patent 1 Wharton CAN CRUSHER {75] Inventor: FranklinEugene Wharton,

Torrance, Calif.

[73] Assignee: William F. McDonald, a part 1H1 3,889,587 June 17, 19753,780,647 Reimers IOU/DIG. 2

Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam F.McDonald [5 7] ABSTRACT A method of crushing a can having a top, abottom, and a sidewall, and apparatus therefor. The method comprises thesteps of making at least one slit in the sidewall of the can from thetop to the bottom and restraining the sidewall of the can from outwardexpansion. The can is axially compressed so as to crush the can whilethe sidewall is restrained from outward expansion so that the cansidewall is forced to collapse inwardly. As a result, there are aminimum of exposed sharp edges on the crushed can.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 17 1975 SHEET CAN causnanBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to thecrushing and compacting of containers. It is particularly applicable tocrushing and compacting cans.

Over the years, there has been a continuing interest in reducing theamount of space occupied by an empty can so that it could be disposed ofmore efficiently or perhaps salvaged and the metal contained thereinrecycled. During World War II with the conventional socalled tin can,people would frequently cut the top and the bottom off the can and thenflatten the sidewall. The flattened cans were salvaged and some of themetals contained therein reclaimed and recycled. With the termination ofWorld War II, interest in flattening tin cans abated somewhat in thiscountry.

Recently the use of aluminum in cans has become quite popular. Many ofthese aluminum cans are of the seamless, so-called drawn and ironedconstruction. In this construction the bottom and the sidewall of thecan are of one piece with the bottom normally substantially thicker andstronger than the sidewall. The top of the can is normally stronger thanthe sidewall. The junctures of the top and the sidewall and the bottomand the sidewall are also normally stronger than the side wall itself.The construction of this type of can is such that it is extremelydifficult to separate the bottom from the sidewall so that the sidewall,the top having been previously separated, could then be flattened. Theconstruction of the can is such that the sidewall. although thin, tendsto have somewhat of an eggshell effect and is quite difficult to axiallycompact.

With the increase in concern about the contamination of the environmentand exhaustion of natural resources and the resulting increasingemphasis on recycling, particularly of materials which do not oxidizeand revert to a natural state very readily such as aluminum. there hasbeen a growing demand for an improvement in crushing and compactingaluminum cans for reclamation and recycling purposes. Since much of thecollection of aluminum cans done today is by groups such as Boy Scout orGirl Scout troops and the like which conduct neighborhood collectioncampaigns, and lightly skilled supermarket employees, the method ofcrushing and compacting the can must be as safe as possible. One way toincrease the safety of the system is to minimize the number of exposededges which could cut the hands of a youngster handling the crushed andcompacted can.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an advantage of the instant inventionthat it provides a method and apparatus for crushing a can which isusable on all types of cans including the seamless drawn and ironedaluminum can. It is a particular advantage of the present invention thatthere are a minimum of exposed sharp edges on the crushed can. Thus, theinvention can be practiced by young children who are collecting cans forrecycling as well as relatively unskilled supermarket employees whomight also wish to crush the cans to reduce the storage problems untilthe cans be picked up for transfer to a central point for recycling.

The present invention provides a method for crushing a can having a top,a bottom, and a sidewall. the method involves making at least one slitin the sidewall of the can from the top to the bottom and restrainingthe sidewall of the can from outward expansion. The can is axiallycompressed so as to crush the can while the sidewall is restrained fromoutward expansion. The can sidewall is accordingly forced to collapseinwardly. As a result, there are a minimum of exposed sharp edges on thecrushed can.

The apparatus of the instant invention is useful for crushing canswherein the junctures of the top and the sidewall and the bottom and thesidewall are stronger than the sidewall. The device comprises a base anda hollow cylinder open at both its upper and lower ends mounted at itslower end on the base. The cylinder has a length greater than the canand an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of thecan and is adapted to contain and restrain the can while it is beingcrushed. At least one blade is resiliently mounted in the side of thecylinder and extending inwardly thereof a short distance. The blade isadapted to yield to the strong junctures of the top and sidewall and thebottom and sidewall of the can, and longitudinally slit the sidewall ofthe can as it is inserted into the cylinder starting at the upper endthereof. A piston having a diameter such that it can pass through thecylin der without touching the blade is provided which is adapted topress down on the can within the cylinder. Means are provided for movingthe piston longitudinally within the cylinder from a position near theupper end to a position near the lower end so as to crush the can. Theinside surface of the cylinder restrains expansion of the can as it iscrushed so that the can sidewall is forced to collapse inwardly. As aresult. there will be a minimum of exposed sharp edges on the crushedcan.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings areillustrative of advantageous embodiments of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, and with partsremoved for purposes of clarity, of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. I showing a can as it passes through theembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is another view of the same embodiment showing the can as it isbeing crushed according to the instant invention;

FIG. 4 is a top sectional view, with parts removed for purposes ofclarity, taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the crushedcan in position to be removed from the device;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view with parts removed for purposes ofclarity of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Throughout the drawings corresponding referencenumerals have been used for corresponding parts.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, a device for crushingcans in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at10. Can crusher I0 includes a base I2 of suitable material. The type ofmaterial which can be used for base 12 is virtually unlimited so long asthe material can withstand the crushing pressure exerted on the can bythe device. A hollow cylinder [4 open at both its upper end 16 and itslower end I8 is mounted on the base. As shown, this may be by means of apivot pin 20 attached to base 12 and passing through a hingepassage 22on cylinder 14. To insure proper alignment of cylinder 14 and base I2,mating keys 24 may be provided on lower end 18 of cylinder [4 and base12. A cap 26 is pivotally connected to cylinder 12, for example. bymeans of the same pivot pin 20.

The construction of cylinder [4 is such that it will be strong enough torestrain a can 29 which is being crushed therein. As shown, cylinder 14desirably has a length greater than can 29 and an inside diameterslightly greater than the outside diameter of the can 29. Cylinder I4 isadapted to contain and restrain can 29 while it is being crushed. Atleast one blade 28 is resiliently mounted in the side of cylinder 14. Inthe embodiment shown eight blades 28 are provided uniformlycircumferentially distributed in the side of cylinder l4 and are closerto upper end 16 than lower end 18. The longitudinal position of blades28 is not critical so long as they will be above the sidewall 35 of can28 in its crushed position. Blades 28 having cutting edges thereon whichextend inwardly a short distance from the side of cylinder 14, the planeof the cutting edge of each blade 28 comprising a radius of the cylinder14. Blades 28 are resiliently mounted in the side ofcylinder 14 by meansofa torsional ring 30 positioned within the wall of cylinder I4. Thetorsional ring desirably is triangular in cross section as shown andblades 28 have corresponding triangular shaped openings 32 thereinthrough which the torsional ring passes. In this manner, blades 28 aretightly attached to torsional ring 30 and responsive to the springpressure exerted thereby. The tension exerted on blades 28 by torsionalring 30 is such that the blades are adpated to yield to the strongjuncture 34 of the top 33 and sidewall 35 and the strong juncture 36ofthe bottom 37 and sidewall 35 of can 29. The can shown is a seamlessaluminum can of the drawn and ironed type but it will be appreciatedpractice of the instant invention is not limited thereto. The inventioncan be utilized on a can of virtually any construction.

Although blades 28 yield to the strong junctures 34 and 36, they willlongitudinally slit sidewall 35 of can 29 as it is inserted intocylinder 14, for example, by being pushed in with a hand applied tobottom 37 of can 29. As shown, can 29 is inserted into cylinder 14starting with top 33 and starting at the upper end 16 of cylinder 14.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, cap 26 has been pivoted aroundinto position in axial alignment with cylinder I4. A tongue 38 may beprovided in cap 26 to rest and stop in groove 40 in cylinder 14 toprovide the proper alignment. A central channel 42 is provided in cap26. A piston 44 having a head 46 and a rod 48 is axially aligned withcylinder 14. As shown, rod 48 of piston passes through central channel42 of cap 26. Head 46 of piston 44 has a diameter such that it can passthrough cylinder 44 without touching blades 28 and is adapted to pressdown on bottom 37 of can 29 within cylinder 14. Suitable means areprovided for moving the piston assembly 44 longitudinally withincylinder 14 from a position near upper end 16 to a position near lowerend [8 of cylinder 14 so as to crush can 29. Although various means maybe utilized, an arrangement comprising a rack 50 provided on piston rod48 which coacts with a pinion gear 52 under the influ ence of anoperating handle 54 to move the piston assembly 44 is shown for purposesof illustration As the can 29 is crushed by the downward movement ofpiston assembly 44, the inside surface of cylinder 14 restrains theexpansion of can 29 so that the sidewall 35 of can 29 is forced tocollapse inwardly, The result is shown in FIG. 5 and it is readilyapparent there will be a minimum of exposed sharp edges on crushed can29. In FIG. 5 cylinder 14 has been pivoted away from base 12 and crushedcan 29 may readily be removed from the lower end [8 of cylinder 14.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the instant invention. In thisembodiment an alternative connec tion between base I2 and cylinder 14 isalso illustrated. Pivot pin 20 is horizontally positioned and passesthrough hinge passage 22 which is formed in an extension of lower end 18of cylinder 14 instead of extending along the side thereof.

In this embodiment. can 29, for example, at shoulder 56, will rest onblades 28 when it is inserted into cylin der [4. Blades 28 are providedwith protruding heels 58 which extend radially through the sideofcylinder 14 to the exterior thereof through appropriate apertures. Asleeve 60 having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outsidediameter of cylinder 14 is adapted to slide down over cylinder 14 and inthis manner engage heels 58 and force them inwardly causing blades 28 tocut into the side wall 35 of can 29 positioned in cylinder [4. In thisembodiment, cap 26 is pivotally connected as by a separate pivot pin 62and hinge passage 64 arrangement to the top 66 of sleeve 60. Anysuitable means, not shown, including the pressure of the human hand maybe used to slide sleeve 60 downwardly over cylinder I4. In fact, theweight alone of sleeve 60 might be sufficient to accomplish thispurpose. Can 29 is pushed downwardly past blades 28, the relativemovement of the two causing the slitting of side wall 35 by blade 28,through the action of piston assembly 44 which, as it continues itsdownward movement, will thereafter crush the slit can 29.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing are only descriptions ofexemplary embodiments of the method of this invention and exemplaryapparatus embodying the principles of the present invention. These arefor illustrative purposes only and the present invention is not to belimited thereby but only by the claims wherein,

What is claimed is:

l. A device for crushing cans wherein the junetures of the top and thesidewall and the bottom and the sidewall are stronger than the sidewallwhich comprises:

a. a base,

b. a hollow cylinder open at both its upper and lower ends mounted atits lower end on the base and having a length greater than the can andan inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the canand having a strength sufficient to contain and restrain the can whileit is being crushed:

c. at least one blade resiliently mounted in the side of the cylinderand having a cutting edge thereon extending inwardly thereof a shortdistance, the plane of the cutting edge of the blade comprising a radiusof the cylinder, so as to longitudinally slit the sidewall of the can asit is inserted into the cylinder starting at the upper end thereof andmoves past the blade;

(1. A piston having a diameter such that it can pass through thecylinder without touching the blade and adapted to press down on the canwithin the cylinder;

e. means for moving the piston longitudinally within the cylinder from aposition near the upper end to a position near the lower end so as tocrush the can the inside surface of cylinder restraining expansion ofthe can as it is crushed so that the can sidewall is forced to collapseinwardly. whereby there will be a minimum of exposed sharp edges on thecrushed can 2. The device of claim 1 including means pivotallyconnecting the cylinder and the base so that the cylinder and the basemay be pivoted away from one another for removal of the crushed can fromthe cylinder.

3. The device of claim I including a cap pivotally connected to theupper end of the cylinder and having a central channel through which thepiston passes.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the resilient mount for the blade is atorsional ring positioned within the wall of the cylinder, the bladebeing attached to the torsional ring.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the blade has a protruding heel thereonwhich extends radially through the side of the cylinder to the exteriorthereof and including a sleeve having an inside diameter slightlygreater than the outside diameter of the cylinder and adapted to slidedown over the cylinder and engage the heel of the blade forcing itinwardly causing the blade to cut into the sidewall of a can positionedin the cylinder.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the number of blades is 8 and theblades are uniformly circumferentially distributed in the side of thecan 7. The device of claim 4 wherein the torsional ring is triangular incross section and the blade has a corresponding triangular shapedopening therein through which the torsional ring passes

1. A device for crushing cans wherein the junctures of the top and thesidewall and the bottom and the sidewall are stronger than the sidewallwhich comprises: a. a base, b. a hollow cylinder open at both its upperand lower ends mounted at its lower end on the base and having a lengthgreater than the can and an inside diameter slightly greater than theoutside diameter of the can and having a strength sufficient to containand restrain the can while it is being crushed: c. at least one bladeresiliently mounted in the side of the cylinder and having a cuttingedge thereon extending inwardly thereof a short distance, the plane ofthe cutting edge of the blade comprising a radius of the cylinder, so asto longitudinally slit the sidewall of the can as it is inserted intothe cylinder starting at the upper end thereof and moves past the blade;d. A piston having a diameter such that it can pass through the cylinderwithout touching the blade and adapted to press down on the can withinthe cylinder; e. means for moving the piston longitudinally within thecylinder from a position near the upper end to a position near the lowerend so as to crush the can, the inside surface of cylinder restrainingexpansion of the can as it is crushed so that the can sidewall is forcedto collapse inwardly, whereby there will be a minimum of exposed sharpedges on the crushed can.
 2. The device of claim 1 including meanspivotally connecting the cylinder and the base so that the cylinder andthe base may be pivoted away from one another for removal of the crushedcan from the cylinder.
 3. The device of claim 1 including a cappivotally connected to the upper end of the cylinder and having acentral channel through which the piston passes.
 4. The device of claim1 wherein the resilient mount for the blade is a torsional ringpositioned within the wall of the cylinder, the blade being attached tothe torsional ring.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the blade has aprotruding heel thereon which extends radially through the side of thecylinder to the exterior thereof and including a sleeve having an insidediameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder andadapted to slide down over the cylinder and engage the heel of the bladeforcing it inwardly causing the blade to cut into the sideWall of a canpositioned in the cylinder.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the numberof blades is 8 and the blades are uniformly circumferentiallydistributed in the side of the can.
 7. The device of claim 4 wherein thetorsional ring is triangular in cross section and the blade has acorresponding triangular shaped opening therein through which thetorsional ring passes.